Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-10
Az rxrLED MrLLIoNAIRE.
How Hr. Coresran's Homo was
Saved from Conflscafion.


which he consequently did, remaining
there until the close OF the long strug
gle. at last, after peace had been re-
stored. Mr.. Corcoran returned from his
wanderings in foreign lands, and, with
the exception of few short journeys
aud tie annual summer visit to
the White Sulphur Springs, he has
remained quietly at his beautiful hom4
in this city. When he determined to
so abroad he placed his house IN the
bands II an agent, with instructions to
use every possible means to prevent It's
confiscation by the Government, for
the move was so sudden there he'd been
no time to remove any OF the elegant
furniture. hapgings, and works OF art
for which il had long been Justly cele-
hrated One morning shortly after
this the agent in whose hands the house
had been left learned to his con-
sternation that orders had been
issued to the medical corps of the
army to take possession of it on
Monday morning, the intelligence
reaching him Saturday. At this
time NJ. Montholon, the French Min
lister, who came TO this country from
the court of Macmillan, was looking
about for a suitable residence for the
legation. Hearing OF this fortunate
combination Of circumstances, the
agent at once fastened to the Minister.
and, after presenting the exact state of
tie case. offered him the house upon
such advantageous conditions that the
bargain was at once ratified. Sunday
morning it was with genuine surprise
that church. goeTs, in common with
other pedestrians, noticed the French
flag fying from Mr.. CorcorAn's house,
when the matter OF its intended contis-
cation was already an open secret. The
authorities were at once appraised of the
fact, and Secretary Seward, after Il
conference with the President, sent
a request to NJ. Montholon for an i'm
mediate audience. Polite AMI smiling,
the French Minister responded to the
summons. During the interview the
Secretary of State became greatly ex-
cited over the way affairs had been
managed, and when VI. MontholOn
calmly remarked that in view of the
fact that the French flag foatsd over
the house there could be no further
question OF confscation, he blazed
forth holly, demanding whether tbs
French flag was broad enough to cover
such a daring act as to take possession
OF a house which had already been
confscated by the Government. Draw
ing himself to his full height, NJ. Mon
tholon replied in dignlfel, emphatic
manner 1.-THE French flag may not
be broad enough, MIR. Secretary, but
Napoleon is.
in February, 1856, when General
Giant was stationed in Washington ~
commanding general of the army, tn
French Minister, who still occupied th1
Corcorsn house as the legation, issue
invitations for the most magnificent
hall which has probably ever been
given in Washington, and which, in
point Of lavish expenditure and cle-
cance, riya!led any of the most n)te I
tate entertainments at foreign coJrts.
Stories Of the famous MonthOlon bail
remain as fresh in the minds of taosa
who attended as though it happene
but yesterday The French Minister,
with his wife. the MarquiSe dc
MonthOlon, and her mother, Mrs.
Gratriot, received the guests in the
library Of the mansion, the art-glllery
having for the evening been converted
into a ballroom. at one end of which,
in deep recess hung with crimson
velvet, stood the famous statue OF the
Greek Slave" by Powers. The ball
was giyon by the order of Lonis Napo-
leon. IL consequence of which the
French ship, then lying at Annapolis,
WIS ogd red NJ that her officers might
attend the entertainment. The city
was tacuing With officers Of the United
States army, all of those invited Oh
TINS occasion appearing in full uni
form, which added immaasurably TO
the bllliancy of the occasion.
Tho Marquiso de Montholon wore
magnificent dress, covered with
iewclled heur-Ge-lis, ordered from Paris
FOR this ball, while across her breast.
which was ablaze with Jewels, were tbs
Order OF Napoleon and that OF the
house OF MontholOn. 1t Is seldom that
atsny entertainment are gathered 50
many distinguished persOnsas were pres
out on that occasion. There were then
present, as brides, two women whose
names are conspicuous not only IN
This country, but abroad-Mrs. Kate
{ base sprague, whose brunette beauty
vas set of to best advantage by dress
Of white MORE striped with green,
while nm antique tiara Of emeralds and
diamonds sparkled in her dark hair
The other bride was the wife OF Gene
raj Williams, Of the army, and the for
mcr widow of Stephen a. Douglas.
She wore her wedding gown OF whito
silk covered with tuile, with strands OF
pearls about her throat and in her
blonde hair.
The programme Of the ball was to
have Lad the cotillon danced at 2
o'clock, hut owing to the immense
crcwd-a large portion OF which, twas
thought, were uninyited-which su-gsd
through The rooms, it was impossible to
begin before ) o'clock 4. NJ, from
which it lasted until o'clock, when
breakfast was served to n few specially
invited guests. The cotillon was led by
-ir Frederick Bruce, at that time Min
ister ilom the Court Of st. James, anil
"A man Of handsome physique and bear
ing. General Grants partnerwas Miss
Harris, who had been one of the party
in the hex with President Lincoln the
night Of lis assassination, and who sub
sequontly married Colonel Rathbone,
only TO meet her tragic death at his
hands a few years since while living
abroad.
4 good story in connection with this
ball. which has not heretofore APP
pearsd in print, was told by the Minis
ter to General Grant, who enjoyed it
none tho less heartily because 1t was at
his expense. NJ. Monthoon being a
warm personal friend and admirer OF
General Grant, Issued orders to his
steward at the outset of the ball that
the General was to be treated as spe-
cial guest OF honor and the b st wine
that the cellars afforded placed at his
disposal. The EeXt day the steward
approached the Minister in great per-
plexity and inquired in an amazed way
IL -, Ill G.or.raf Crapt 70 v.yho n,